Afghanistan: Civilian Casualties

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many civilian casualties are known tohave resulted directly from NATO activities in Afghanistan this year; how many incidents have been or are currently being investigated; and how these figures compare with those publicised by the Taliban.

Lord Drayson: Precise figures are unavailable for civilian casualties that may be attributable to action by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Two incidents in which Afghan civilians may have died as a resultof NATO close air support missions remain under investigation. I am also aware of a further four Afghan civilian deaths over the course of 2006 that were the result of accidents involving ISAF troops.

Afghanistan: Economic Opportunities

Viscount Eccles: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What new and significant economic opportunities they and other NATO members have identified in Afghanistan; and what steps they are taking to assist in their exploitation.

Baroness Amos: Mining of Afghanistan's natural resources such as coal, gas and minerals represents a significant economic opportunity over the medium and long term. DfID, the US and the World Bank have provided support to help the Government of Afghanistan develop this sector. DfID provides £3.85 million in technical assistance to the Ministry of Mines and the Afghan Geological Survey to help build institutional capacity to manage these resources and attract foreign investment.
	DfID provides £1 million to the Afghanistan Investment Guarantee Fund (AIGF)—a World Bank- administered trust fund that pools funding from the Asian Development Bank and Germany. This is an innovative mechanism which seeks to help entrepreneurs overcome the risks involved in investing in fragile and post-conflict states. To date, $18 million in foreign investment has been leveraged for an agri-business project in northern Afghanistan.
	DfID also provides funding for research on other economic opportunities that create jobs andwealth. For example, the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) has explored the prospects for trade and enterprise in sectors such as carpets, raisins, and construction materials.
	DfID is providing £3 million for research into potential agricultural livelihood options for rural Afghans. The fund helps identify local, national and international market opportunities for high-value alternative crops, including an organic export feasibility study. DfID also provides £3.7 million for new and innovative ways for farmers to make a living in Eastern Hazarajat (one of the poorest areas in Afghanistan), including apricot drying, poultry, honey bee keeping, tailoring and weaving, silk and cashmere wool production and the introduction of fruit tree nurseries and greenhouses for vegetable production.

Afghanistan: Private Sector

Viscount Eccles: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Bearing in mind that the World Bank's drug replacement strategy in Afghanistan includes support for the growth of a formal, modern and competitive private sector, what action they have taken through their aid programme and their co-operation with international partners to assist the Afghan private sector.

Baroness Amos: DfID provides £3.9 million in technical assistance to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This aims to help the Government of Afghanistan (GoA) identify and remove barriers to private sector development, and create an investment climate conducive to economic growth. DfID also provides £3.85 million to the Ministry of Mines to help the GoA manage its natural resources and attract foreign investment. This will tap into resources such as coal, gas and minerals and generate jobs and enterprise wealth and government revenues over the long term.
	In collaboration with international partners such as the Asian Development Bank and Germany, DfID has contributed £1 million towards an innovative World Bank trust fund—the Afghanistan Investment Guarantee Fund (AIGF)—which attracts foreign investments. In 2006, this catalysed $18 million of foreign investment for the cotton sector in northern Afghanistan.

Animal Welfare: Electric Shock Collars

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made an assessment of the quality of the study on electric shock collars by Matthijs B H Schilder and Joanne A M van der Borg; if so, what is that assessment; and whether further research on electric shock collars is necessary.

Lord Rooker: I understand that the study to which the noble Baroness refers is entitled Training dogs with the help of the shock collar: short and long term behavioural effects. Defra has considered the results of this study but found thatthey do not provide a sufficient basis to underpin government policy.
	We consider that further research in this area is necessary as a matter of priority to enable a decision to be made on whether there is a need for regulation.
	I also refer the noble Baroness to the Answer given in the other place on 25 July 2006 (Official Reportcol. 1482W).

Animal Welfare: Electric Shock Collars

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in view of the number of studies that have already been undertaken, they have made an assessment of the extent to which the further testing of electric shock collars on dogs is ethical.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Baroness to the response I gave during the debate on the Animal Welfare Bill on 23 May 2006, Official Report col. GC189. In it, I explained that my department was considering advertising a revised call for research in the light of concerns raised about the unsuccessful open competition in 2005.
	We subsequently circulated a limited tender callin July, which encouraged proposals for an epidemiological study to assess the effect of specific electronic pet training collars on the welfare of dogs; in other words, a study based on observation of collars already in use. We will take account of ethical considerations when assessing the proposals we have received in response.

Animal Welfare: Electric Shock Collars

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made an assessment of the relevance of the effects of electric shock stimulion mice and rats to determining the welfare implications for electric shock collars worn around the neck of a dog.

Lord Rooker: We have made no such assessment.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders: Statistics

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the reasons for the delay in the publication of the anti-social behaviour orders statistics for 2003—04 and 2004—05.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The latest data on anti-social behaviour orders issued, as reported by the courts, cover the period up to September 2005 and have already been published on the crime reduction website. Data for the March 2006 quarter will be ready later in the year, but data for the December 2005 quarter are currently prepared for publication, and we hope that they will be ready soon. This publication will include data about the breach rate for the period up to December 2005.

Armed Forces: Health

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a recent review of procedures for family members and colleagues to report concerns about the health of serving Armed Forces personnel has been undertaken.

Lord Drayson: A review of the Army post-operational stress management (POSM) policy was undertaken in September 2005. No substantive changes were made to the section of the policy relating to the role of families and colleagues in detecting mental ill health, since it already recognised that friends and family, colleagues, and those in the chain of command all have a part to play in detecting and managing operational stress. The policy recognises that they are often the first to notice changes of mood, behaviour or work performance in someone who has returned from an operational tour.
	We emphasise the importance of families being made fully aware of the warning signs and symptoms, what they can do and who can help them, and we offer presentations and leaflets as part of this educational process.
	Efforts are also made to arrange a "decompression period" for personnel immediately prior to returning from deployment. The exact form of the decompression period varies between the services and depends on the individual unit's circumstances, but in general it allows personnel mentally and physically to unwind after their operational tour and provides them with the opportunity to talk to friends, colleagues and superiors about their experiences.
	The individual unit's chain of command uses the decompression period to monitor and identify those personnel who are apparently most vulnerable to any form of post-operational stress or stress-related condition. During this time, all personnel are offered a briefing on post-operational stress.
	Once back at their home base, if treatment is required for a mental health condition this is provided either as out-patient treatment in one of our 15 regional departments of community mental health (DCMHs) in the UK or satellite centres overseas, or as in-patient treatment at regional facilities run by the Priory Group. The regional locations of the DCMHs and the Priory facilities mean that treatment can be provided close to an individual's unit, base or home, thus allowing the vital support from families to continue.

Armed Forces: Military Combat Actions

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the methodology used by United Kingdom and other coalition forces in calculating the number of deaths among insurgents in military combat actions, including the Taliban in Afghanistan; whether these figures are taken from independent sources; and what steps they will take to explain this methodology.

Lord Drayson: We do not formally track the number of insurgents killed, as this would not be an accurate measure of our progress.

Armed Forces: Trained Strength

Lord Newby: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current trained strength of (a) regular; and (b) reserve personnel in (i) the Army; (ii) the Royal Navy; and (iii) the Royal Air Force; and how many in each category are planned to be abroad on 15 December 2006.

Lord Drayson: Figures for the trained strength can be found in Tri Service Publication 1 (TSP 1 ).
	TSP 1 is a monthly publication and copies are held in the Library of the House and can also be found at www.dasa.mod.uk. The most recent publication shows data as at 1 September 2006.
	
		
			 Figures for the Regular and Volunteer Reserve forces at1 September 2006 
			  Naval Service1,2 Army3 RAF4,5 
			 Regular Reserve 34,610 33,100 360 
			 Volunteer Reserve 2,120 36,100 1,400 
			 Source: DASA
			 1 Source of Naval Service data is Fleet—CMR 
			 2 Figures for Naval Service are trained personnel only 
			 3 Army Volunteer Reserve figures include Group A & B, Mobilised TA and Officer Training Corps, but excludes non-regular permanent staff and full-time reserve service (FTRS). 
			 4 RAF Reserve (RAFR) figure is for active RAFR only, and does not include those who have left the service and have reserve liability. 
			 5 RAF figures include personnel serving on FTRS. 
			 Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 
			 P denotes provisional 
		
	
	Due to the deployment and movement of personnel changing continuously, it is not possibleto say how many personnel will be abroad on15 December.

Belfast Agreement

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have estimated the annual cost of implementing an Irish Language Bill for Northern Ireland as envisaged in the 1998 Belfast agreement.

Lord Rooker: Information on the cost implications of implementing an Irish Language Act is currently being compiled for the purposes of a consultation paper which the Government plan to publish.

Benefits: Incapacity Benefit

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of the United Kingdom population by (a) age, and (b) gender are in receipt of incapacity benefit.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The information is in the table:
	
		
			 Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance claimants in Great Britain by age-group and gender, as at February 2006. 
			  All Percentage of population Female Percentage of female population Male Percentage of male population 
			 All 2,747,490 5.8% 1,158,500 4.8% 1,588,990 6.9% 
			 Unknown age 70 - 20 - 40 - 
			 16-17 8,550 0.6% 4,150 0.6% 4,400 0.6% 
			 18-24 160,400 3.0% 74,130 2.8% 86,270 3.2% 
			 25-34 352,360 4.6% 147,530 3.8% 204,840 5.4% 
			 35-44 591,690 6.6% 263,740 5.8% 327,950 7.4% 
			 45-49 346,700 8.8% 168,660 8.5% 178,030 9.2% 
			 50-54 393,000 11.0% 196,770 10.9% 196,220 11.1% 
			 55-59 540,840 14.2% 268,400 13.9% 272,440 14.5% 
			 60-64 324,710 10.7% 12,720 0.8% 311,980 21.1% 
			 65 and over 29,190 0.3% 22,380 0.4% 6,810 0.2% 
		
	
	Notes:1. "-" denotes nil or negligible.2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Percentages given are those for each age-group. 4. Percentages rounded to one decimal place.Sources: Information Directorate 100 per cent WPLS; ONS population estimates.

Benefits: Incapacity Benefit

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage and number of those on incapacity benefit are in receipt of: (a) lower rate disability living allowance; (b) middle rate disability living allowance; and (c) higher rate disability living allowance; and
	What percentage and number of those on incapacity benefit are: (a) not in receipt of disability living allowance; (b) in receipt of lower rate disability living allowance; (c) in receipt of middle rate disability living allowance; (d) in receipt of higher rate disability living allowance; and (e) estimated to receive care of between 20 and 35 hours per week.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The informationis in the table; no estimates are availablefor the number of incapacity benefit anddisability living allowance claimants who receivecare.
	
		
			 Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) claimants by whether they are also in receipt of disability living allowance care components; in Great Britain as at February 2006. 
			  Number Proportion of IB/SDA recipients 
			 Not in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA). 1,470,910 53.5% 
			 Receiving DLA higher rate care component. 274,630 10.0% 
			 Receiving DLA middle rate care component. 407,560 14.8% 
			 Receiving DLA lower rate care component. 365,380 13.3% 
			 Receiving DLA with no care component. 229,000 8.3% 
			 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 
			 2. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. 
			 3. DLA cases are only those where an amount is in payment, and do not include cases where payment has been suspended. 
			 Source: DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS.

Benefits: Post Offices

Lord Dearing: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, before announcing the recent successive changes in methods of social security payment, they made any assessments of the potential effects of such changes on the post offices network and of the cost to the public purse in support of post offices; and whether they undertook any surveysof the attitude of pensioners towards theproposed changes in methods of social security payment.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Since May 1999 the Government's policy has consistently been that benefits and pensions should be paid into bank accounts wherever possible. In research undertaken in September 2004 more than90 per cent of pensioners said that they were happy having their pension paid into an account.
	The existing Post Office card account contract ends in March 2010 as we have always made clear. The full range of accounts which will be available beyond then is not yet settled—discussions between the Government and Post Office Ltd are continuing.
	Around 25 bank accounts can also be used at the post office generating income and other business for the sub-postmaster. There are around 20 million people who could access their bank account at a post office, but only around 10 per cent (2 million) per week actually do so. DWP will be happy to work with the Post Office to try to increase this number, which will give post office branches new income. Post Office Ltd has already introduced one new savings account and is developing other savings and banking products.

Bloody Sunday: Inquiry

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much the Bloody Sunday inquiry has cost to date.

Lord Rooker: The cost of the Bloody Sunday inquiry was calculated in July 2006 at £172 million. It has not been possible to provide a more up-to-date answer to the noble Lord's Question in this parliamentary Session. I will write to the noble Lord.

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the concerns raised in the letter "BN(O) limbo", published in the South China Morning Post on 25 September, highlighting the continuing difficulties faced by British Nationals (Overseas) of Indian origin waiting for British citizenship certificates; and whether they will place a copy of the letter and their response in the Library of the House.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There have been some technical difficulties surrounding the processing of applications for citizenship from Hong Kong, which have now been resolved, and the Home Office is working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure that all such applications and requests are processed quickly.
	Neither the Home Office nor the British Consulate General in Hong Kong has replied to the noble Lord's open letter which appeared in the South China Morning Post on 25 September 2006. We do not feel it appropriate to respond to letters using the open letters page of local newspapers, which are subject to the editors unencumbered right to edit the contents of any letter forwarded for publication. We will always respond to letters sent direct to the Home Office or Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 October (WA 187),what is the basis for their assertion that a person who acquired British Overseas citizenship under Article 6(1) of the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 as a result of being a Hong Kong British Dependent Territories citizen under Section 16 of the British NationalityAct 1981 did so by birth; and whether they will make the relevant updates to the B(OS) application form and guidance notes.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I said in my previous Answer that a person who was a British Overseas citizen under Article 6(1) of the 1986 Order "will be so effectively by birth"—the implication being that it would suffice for the purpose of his or her application under Section 4B of the British Nationality Act 1981 to indicate that such was the derivation of his or her British Overseas citizenship. I acknowledged inthat reply that some changes were needed so that references to Section 4B applications gave clear guidance to those who had acquired British Overseas citizenship on that basis. We shall at the same time ensure that the form and guide B(OS) appropriately cater for those who are British Overseas citizens under Article 6(2) of the 1986 order.

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 October (WA 186-7), whether they will also update section 8 of the British citizenship application form B(OS) and part 8 of guide B(OS) to explain how an applicant who became a British overseas citizen ipso jure under Article 6(2) of the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 should complete the application form.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer to his Question (HL7837).

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have responded to the matters raised in the letter published in the South China Morning Post on 23 October, highlighting the issues which continue to face British nationals (overseas) of Indian origin waiting for British citizenship certificates; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the letter and their response.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I draw the noble Lord's attention to my Answer to his Question (HL7531).

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To whom a person resident in Hong Kong should write asking for recompense if he or she has suffered financial loss as a result of an erroneous refusal of an application for British citizenship by the Home Office; what details that person should include with her request; and whether they will place in the Library of the House the criteria or guidelines against which any such application is assessed.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Customers seeking recompense in such circumstances should write to:
	IND Customer Focus Team11th Floor West WingBlock C, Whitgift CentreWellesley Road Croydon CR9 1 AT
	Full details should be provided of the financialloss incurred. When deciding whether a payment of compensation should be made, reference is made to the Government Accounting manual, which exists to ensure the proper handling of public funds. The general principle is that where there has been maladministration on the part of the IND redress will be provided, which is fair and reasonable, in light of all the facts and circumstances of the case. Any payment of compensation is not a legal entitlement and may be subject to approval by the Treasury. Each application for compensation is considered on its merits. A hard copy of the Government Accounting manual is published by The Stationery Office. It can also be accessed online via www.government-accounting.gov.uk or through the HM Treasury website www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.

Civil Service: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service are entitled to annual sick leave without a doctor's certificate; if so, how much sick leave they are entitled to; and what are the reasons for this entitlement.

Lord Rooker: Within the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) terms and conditions, there is no entitlement to annual sick leave.
	Under a Cabinet Office review, doctors are not required to provide a sickness absence certificate for an absence of less than eight calendar days. Therefore, to comply with this, the NICS terms and conditions make provision for absences of up to seven calendar days to be self-certified by staff.
	While there is no maximum limit as such onthe total number of self-certified days, all sickness absence levels are closely monitored. Where departments believe that the facility is being abused, or used excessively, there is discretion to withdraw it. In the event of any future absences, staff would be required to provide at their own expense a doctor's statement as evidence of incapacity.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the circumstances which led to the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) being allowed to wait until 2009 before becoming a part of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights have changed; if so, when they expect the CRE to join; and what are the reasons for any changed circumstances.

Baroness Andrews: Following the appointment of Trevor Phillips as chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government sought his advice and that of the CRE on the principle and practicalities of the CRE joining the CEHR in October 2007 at the same time as the Equal Opportunities and Disability Rights Commissions. In response to that request, he has informed her thathe and the CRE support this proposal. It is the unanimous view of the CRE commissioners that the needs of race equality work and the status of race and community relations would be best served by a simultaneous transition process for all three existing commissions. The Secretary of State has accepted this advice.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What changes have occurred since the appointment of the chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) in the arrangements for the transition of existing commissions into the CEHR; and whether the CEHR will be operational by October 2007.

Baroness Andrews: Since the appointment of Trevor Phillips as the chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) there have been no changes in the arrangements for the transition of the existing commissions into the CEHR, apart from the date of incorporation of the CRE which is now October 2007. The detailed plans for transition will be dependent on the commissioners' decisions on the structure of the CEHR.
	The plan remains for CEHR to be operational by October 2007.

Consultation: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Northern Ireland Office has arranged in each year since 1999; what form such consultations took; and what groups they consulted; and
	Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, whether the groups consultedby Northern Ireland Office responded to any consultation; if so, to what extent and in what form they addressed equality of opportunity issues; and whether any suggestions were made leading to a change in proposed policies.

Lord Rooker: The NIO equality scheme, approved by the Equality Commission in November 2001, set out how the department proposed to fulfil the duties of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, with regard to all of its policies and functions. In 2006, the NIO conducted a comprehensive review of the operation of the scheme during its first five years,and this report was submitted to the Equality Commission in July 2006.
	Information on consultations prior to 2001 is not available. However, as part of the equality screening and equality impact assessment processes set out in the equality scheme, the Northern Ireland Office provides an opportunity for consultation groups, stakeholders and the wider public to contribute to NIO polices and legislation including, where appropriate, written consultation exercises, focus groups and public meetings. The aim is to increase the involvement of people and groups in public consultation and to seek their views. Obtaining views from across the community in the form of public consultations is considered an important part of policy-making and development.
	Consultations are carried out in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultation, and the consultation period will normally last for a minimum of 12 weeks to give the public time to respond. The Northern Ireland Office consults with the list of consultees named in the Northern Ireland Equality Commission's guide to the statutory duties, and since 2001 this list has been updated annually and on request throughout the year. Further details on equality-related consultation exercises may be found in the five-year review of the NIO equality scheme on the Northern Ireland Office website at www.nio.gov.uk.
	There would be disproportionate costs associated with the collation of information on responses toall consultations. However, the Northern Ireland Office website at www.nio.gov.uk provides a libraryof consultations and, where available, the summary of responses and any associated revision to the policy or legislation, although, as equality is mainstreamed effectively into decision making, it can be difficult to identify changes to a policy made as a result of consultation alone.

Consultation: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland has arranged in each year since 1999; and what groups the office consulted; and
	Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, whether the groups consulted by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland responded to any consultation; if so, to what extent and in what form they addressed equality of opportunity issues; and whether any suggestions were made leading to a change in proposed policies.

Lord Rooker: Equality-related consultations arising from Section 75 of the Northern IrelandAct 1998 began after equality schemes were approved by the Equality Commission in 2001. Between 2001-02 and 2005-06, in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, there were15 equality-related consultations. Further details can be found in the department's statutory five-year review of its equality scheme which is publicly available on its website at http://www.ofmd fmni.gov.uk/index/equality. For each consultation, the department consults groups and individuals who have requested that they be included on the Section 75 consultation list (this is also available on the OFMDFM website as noted above), which was established as part of the department's equality scheme for these purposes. This list is updated every year.
	In relation to whether and how groups respond to consultation, this information is not readily available in the form requested and could only be obtainedat disproportionate cost. However, the noble Lord may wish to note that for every equality-related consultation issued, officials record to whom consultations were issued, who responded and what was said. A summary of consultation responses is published (usually on the department's website).
	In relation to policy changes arising from consultation, when equality is mainstreamed effectively into decision-making throughout the policy development process, there may be no changes to the policy per se at a later stage.

Consultation: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland has arranged in each year since 1999; what those consultations were; and what groups they consulted.

Lord Rooker: The Department for Employment and Learning has carried out a total of 39 consultations since 1999. A list of these consultations has been placed in the Library.
	A current list of all people and organisations consulted in line with the department's statutory equality duty has also been placed in the Library.

Consultation: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland has arranged in each year since 1999; what those consultations were; and what groups they consulted; and
	Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, whether the groups consulted by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland responded to any consultation; to what extent and in what form they addressed equality of opportunity issues; and whether any suggestions were made leading to a change in proposed policies.

Lord Rooker: As Section 75 did not come into force until 1 January 2000, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety did not carry out any consultations under the terms of Section 75 before then.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has not maintained a central comprehensive register with details of all consultations that have taken place with Section 75 groups since 1 January 2000. It is therefore not possible to provide a comprehensive Answer to these Questions without incurring disproportionate costs. However, records have been maintained showing that 20 equality impact assessments (EQIAs) have been carried out since January 2000 under Section 75. Details of these EQIAs can be found on the department's website at www.dhsspsni.gov. uk/index/hss/equality/eq-completed-eqias.htm.
	The groups consulted as part of the 20 EQIAs will have been drawn from the department's consultation list which is updated on an ongoing basis. The current list has been placed in the Library.
	While there is little evidence in the EQIA reports to indicate that the outcome of the consultations alone resulted in any significant changes to the 20 policies concerned, there are examples of the EQIA process having prompted changes and improvements to better promote equality of opportunity. Details, including examples, can be found at the department's report of its five-year review of its equality scheme at www.d hsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/equality/eq-section75/equality-review-of-equality-scheme.htm.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000: Maps

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the first review of the conclusive maps of access land in each area will commence before 10 years have elapsed from the date of issue of the maps; and whether the 10-year period within which the review must be undertaken is a target date for the commencement of the reviews or for their completion.

Lord Rooker: We take the view that Section 10 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 means that a review must be completed not more than 10 years after the issue of the conclusive map that is being reviewed.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000: Section 26(4) Provisions

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any advice has been provided under the provisions of Section 26(4) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; and, if so, whether the advice has been published.

Lord Rooker: English Nature—now Natural England—as the relevant advisory body for nature conservation purposes in England, has provided the relevant authorities with formal advice for sites of potential concern in the light of the introduction of the right of access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Natural England has not published this advice and is under no statutory duty to do so.

Crime: Alcohol and Drugs

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people in each police authority area were convicted of alcohol and drug offences in 1980; 1985; 1990; 1995; 2000; and 2005; and what are these figures as a percentage of the population in each police authority area.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Available information on drug convictions relate to persons found guilty at court and are given in the first tables. Population data for 1980 and 1985 are not available centrally.
	Data on convictions for alcohol offences broken down by police force area are available from 1985 onwards. The available information is given in the second tables.
	Data for 2004 has been provided instead of 2005; 2005 data will be available in late November.
	
		
			 Number of defendants found guilty at all courts for alcohol offences (1) and the percentage of the population, by police force area, England and Wales, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2004(2)(3) 
			  1985 1990 1995 
			 Force Defendants found guilty Defendants found guilty Mid-year population figures Percentage of population convicted Defendants found guilty Mid-year population figures Percentage of population convicted 
			 Avon and Somerset 899 490 1,413,740 0.03% 232 1,463,384 0.02% 
			 Bedfordshire 421 160 531,168 0.03% 111 545,660 0.02% 
			 Cambridgeshire 396 43 655,047 0.01% 94 693,871 0.01% 
			 Cheshire 679 590 958,562 0.06% 451 978,089 0.05% 
			 Cleveland 993 689 552,836 0.12% 299 559,160 0.05% 
			 Cumbria 755 671 491,627 0.14% 436 490,279 0.09% 
			 Derbyshire 733 234 929,401 0.03% 171 957,856 0.02% 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1,011 725 1,493,970 0.05% 566 1,541,467 0.04% 
			 Dorset 313 367 656,827 0.06% 226 678,668 0.03% 
			 Durham 799 381 596,928 0.06% 209 607,670 0.03% 
			 Essex 495 202 1,464,129 0.01% 167 1,505,725 0.01% 
			 Gloucestershire 239 77 529,494 0.01% 113 552,731 0.02% 
			 Greater Manchester 3,855 2,776 2,582,384 0.11% 1,351 2,578,300 0.05% 
			 Hampshire 2,036 981 1,676,412 0.06% 927 1,741,785 0.05% 
			 Hertfordshire 591 256 840,560 0.03% 137 858,496 0.02% 
			 Humberside 682 319 856,250 0.04% 150 889,191 0.02% 
			 Kent 737 406 1,523,673 0.03% 428 1,551,261 0.03% 
			 Lancashire 2,491 1,446 1,390,794 0.10% 924 1,426,037 0.06% 
			 Leicestershire 117 53 891,926 0.01% 33 923,001 0.00% 
			 Lincolnshire 314 167 586,855 0.03% 25 611,846 0.00% 
			 Merseyside 3,917 3,696 1,447,983 0.26% 1,667 1,427,195 0.12% 
			 Greater London(5) 4,150 6,318 7,227,344 0.09% 1208 7,495,527 0.02% 
			 Norfolk 218 95 748,501 0.01% 175 772,365 0.02% 
			 North Yorkshire 240 61 576,059 0.01% 281 599,284 0.05% 
			 Northamptonshire 3,874 3,485 1,431,721 0.24% 36 1,438,311 0.00% 
			 Northumbria 250 418 722,305 0.06% 1,580 730,636 0.22% 
			 Nottinghamshire 637 511 1,014,822 0.05% 346 1,031,939 0.03% 
			 South Yorkshire 2,932 2,600 1,295,191 0.20% 874 1,303,857 0.07% 
			 Staffordshire(4) 719 865 1,038,990 0.08% 339 1,056,448 0.03% 
			 Suffolk 283 169 641,029 0.03% 191 656,809 0.03% 
			 Surrey 218 144 743,803 0.02% 101 775,226 0.01% 
			 Sussex 925 457 1,416,690 0.03% 560 1,462,346 0.04% 
			 Thames Valley 1,516 1,161 1,960,401 0.06% 887 2,047,463 0.04% 
			 Warwickshire 336 68 483,060 0.01% 119 498,662 0.02% 
			 West Mercia 762 561 1,078,501 0.05% 409 1,114,158 0.04% 
			 West Midlands 3,953 1,882 2,615,409 0.07% 584 2,637,154 0.02% 
			 West Yorkshire 3,580 2,467 2,066,609 0.12% 1,080 2,105,772 0.05% 
			 Wiltshire 256 275 558,395 0.05% 258 590,610 0.04% 
			 Dyfed-Powys 622 342 469,378 0.07% 196 473,988 0.04% 
			 Gwent 1,429 987 446,843 0.22% 685 452,564 0.15% 
			 North Wales 512 754 651,846 0.12% 724 658,668 0.11% 
			 South Wales 2,103 1,651 1,305,014 0.13% 1,154 1,331,562 0.09% 
			 England and Wales 51,988 40,000 50,562,477 0.08% 20,504 51,815,021 0.04% 
		
	
	
		
			  2000 2004 
			 Force Defendants found guilty Mid-year population figures Percentage of population convicted Defendants found guilty Mid-year population figures Percentage of population convicted 
			 Avon and Somerset 394 1,511,778 0.03% 433 1,519,119 0.03% 
			 Bedfordshire 218 565,748 0.04% 135 576,218 0.02% 
			 Cambridgeshire 186 730,183 0.03% 205 737,890 0.03% 
			 Cheshire 561 984,311 0.06% 485 992,642 0.05% 
			 Cleveland 531 556,693 0.10% 499 553,311 0.09% 
			 Cumbria 472 491,040 0.10% 450 494,782 0.09% 
			 Derbyshire 309 977,779 0.03% 358 979,226 0.04% 
			 Devon and Cornwall 856 1,586,655 0.05% 541 1,619,062 0.03% 
			 Dorset 380 698,330 0.05% 158 700,419 0.02% 
			 Durham 463 606,683 0.08% 359 595,388 0.06% 
			 Essex 600 1,628,962 0.04% 213 1,635,605 0.01% 
			 Gloucestershire 187 564,841 0.03% 144 572,791 0.03% 
			 Greater Manchester 1,082 2,585,750 0.04% 606 2,539,043 0.02% 
			 Hampshire 1,253 1,785,986 0.07% 620 1,801,442 0.03% 
			 Hertfordshire 380 1,050,828 0.04% 345 1,041,319 0.03% 
			 Humberside 215 880,985 0.02% 134 887,521 0.02% 
			 Kent 917 1,598,032 0.06% 1,078 1,610,310 0.07% 
			 Lancashire 1,937 1,429,450 0.14% 736 1,434,871 0.05% 
			 Leicestershire 31 938,693 0.00% 24 945,480 0.00% 
			 Lincolnshire 416 634,348 0.07% 418 673,531 0.06% 
			 Merseyside 1,609 1,403,381 0.11% 1,184 1,365,832 0.09% 
			 Greater London(5) 1294 7,375,065 0.02% 1390 7,429,222 0.02% 
			 Norfolk 200 803,970 0.02% 136 816,525 0.02% 
			 North Yorkshire 535 625,895 0.09% 244 764,866 0.03% 
			 Northamptonshire 33 1,413,970 0.00% 28 646,731 0.00% 
			 Northumbria 3,473 753,946 0.46% 3,741 1,396,374 0.27% 
			 Nottinghamshire 396 1,031,210 0.04% 227 1,034,739 0.02% 
			 South Yorkshire 1,001 1,301,532 0.08% 878 1,278,434 0.07% 
			 Staffordshire(4) 306 1,059,711 0.03% 234 1,050,609 0.02% 
			 Suffolk 276 679,915 0.04% 381 683,736 0.06% 
			 Surrey 423 1,080,647 0.04% 355 1,067,186 0.03% 
			 Sussex 494 1,522,401 0.03% 469 1,510,445 0.03% 
			 Thames Valley 934 2,127,782 0.04% 737 2,120,859 0.03% 
			 Warwickshire 198 509,959 0.04% 135 525,481 0.03% 
			 West Mercia 428 1,146,670 0.04% 389 1,178,763 0.03% 
			 West Midlands 407 2,619,021 0.02% 600 2,579,153 0.02% 
			 West Yorkshire 1,267 2,121,452 0.06% 594 2,108,028 0.03% 
			 Wiltshire 320 613,487 0.05% 329 626,809 0.05% 
			 Dyfed-Powys 264 482,827 0.05% 287 503,663 0.06% 
			 Gwent 343 557,368 0.06% 248 556,641 0.04% 
			 North Wales 699 660,263 0.11% 400 674,498 0.06% 
			 South Wales 1,256 1,245,737 0.10% 1,052 1,217,660 0.09% 
			 England and Wales 27,544 52,943,284 0.10% 21,979 53,046,224 0.04% 
			 (1) Includes offences of drunkenness, drunkenness with aggravation and offences related to alcohol licensing etc 
			 (2) These data are provided on the principal offence basis. 
			 (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces and courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 
			 (4) Staffordshire Police Force were only able to supply a sample of data for magistrates' courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Estimates based on this sample are included in the figures, as they are considered sufficiently robust at this high level of analysis. 
			 (5) Includes city of London and Metropolitan Police 
			 Source: RDS—Office for Criminal Justice Reform 
		
	
	
		
			 Persons found guilty for drug offences(1) and percentage of the population convicted, by police force area, England and Wales, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2004. 
			  1980 1985 1990 1995 
			 Force Defendants found guilty Defendants found guilty Defendants found guilty Mid-year population figures Percentage of population convicted Defendants found guilty Mid-year population figures Percentage of population convicted 
			 Avon and Somerset 383 358 164 1,413,740 0.01% 890 1,463,384 0.06% 
			 Bedfordshire 76 110 137 531,168 0.03% 370 545,660 0.07% 
			 Cambridgeshire 293 151 234 655,047 0.04% 336 693,871 0.05% 
			 Cheshire 170 223 324 958,562 0.03% 997 978,089 0.10% 
			 Cleveland 115 98 93 552,836 0.02% 249 559,160 0.04% 
			 Cumbria 174 335 326 491,627 0.07% 559 490,279 0.11% 
			 Derbyshire 101 167 219 929,401 0.02% 571 957,856 0.06% 
			 Devon and Cornwall 414 696 689 1,493,970 0.05% 1,003 1,541,467 0.07% 
			 Dorset 151 197 165 656,827 0.03% 480 678,668 0.07% 
			 Durham 59 62 61 596,928 0.01% 395 607,670 0.07% 
			 Essex 240 344 400 1,464,129 0.03% 786 1,505,725 0.05% 
			 Gloucestershire 199 194 154 529,494 0.03% 342 552,731 0.06% 
			 Greater Manchester 519 1,019 1,356 2,582,384 0.05% 2,375 2,578,300 0.09% 
			 Hampshire 317 315 214 1,676,412 0.01% 1,232 1,741,785 0.07% 
			 Hertfordshire 193 313 336 840,560 0.04% 532 858,496 0.06% 
			 Humberside 145 260 264 856,250 0.03% 595 889,191 0.07% 
			 Kent 234 308 96 1,523,673 0.01% 828 1,551,261 0.05% 
			 Lancashire 357 425 585 1,390,794 0.04% 1,199 1,426,037 0.08% 
			 Leicestershire 249 211 192 891,926 0.02% 393 923,001 0.04% 
			 Lincolnshire 72 51 186 586,855 0.03% 406 611,846 0.07% 
			 Merseyside 267 1,059 1,399 1,447,983 0.10% 1,753 1,427,195 0.12% 
			 City of London & Met Police 5,587 6,678 6,329 7,227,344 0.09% 7,784 7,490,326 0.10% 
			 Norfolk 260 176 391 748,501 0.05% 597 772,365 0.08% 
			 Northamptonshire 115 77 105 576,059 0.02% 267 599,284 0.04% 
			 Northumbria 120 221 289 1,431,721 0.02% 756 1,438,311 0.05% 
			 North Yorkshire 76 162 109 722,305 0.02% 484 730,636 0.07% 
			 Nottinghamshire 146 147 145 1,014,822 0.01% 749 1,031,939 0.07% 
			 South Yorkshire 145 298 351 1,295,191 0.03% 1,010 1,303,857 0.08% 
			 Staffordshire 83 220 235 1,038,990 0.02% 661 1,056,448 0.06% 
			 Suffolk 222 157 244 641,029 0.04% 410 656,809 0.06% 
			 Surrey 270 406 361 743,803 0.05% 425 775,226 0.05% 
			 Sussex 497 458 860 1,416,690 0.06% 839 1,462,346 0.06% 
			 Thames Valley 472 608 911 1,960,401 0.05% 1,357 2,047,463 0.07% 
			 Warwickshire 78 86 171 483,060 0.04% 185 498,662 0.04% 
			 West Mercia 262 156 376 1,078,501 0.03% 596 1,114,158 0.05% 
			 West Midlands 280 663 1,148 2,615,409 0.04% 1,255 2,637,154 0.05% 
			 West Yorkshire 341 395 942 2,066,609 0.05% 2,228 2,105,772 0.11% 
			 Wiltshire 120 147 102 558,395 0.02% 205 590,610 0.03% 
			 Dyfed-Powys 199 212 186 469,378 0.04% 509 473,988 0.11% 
			 Gwent 122 134 144 446,843 0.03% 284 452,564 0.06% 
			 North Wales 195 276 375 651,846 0.06% 1043 658,668 0.16% 
			 South Wales 278 597 578 1,305,014 0.04% 924 1,331,562 0.07% 
		
	
	
		
			  2000 2004 
			 Force Defendants found guilty Mid-year population figures Percentage of population convicted Defendants found guilty Mid-year population figures Percentage of population convicted 
			 Avon and Somerset 1,040 1,511,778 0.07% 805 1,519,119 0.05% 
			 Bedfordshire 500 565,748 0.09% 226 576,218 0.04% 
			 Cambridgeshire 410 730,183 0.06% 380 737,890 0.05% 
			 Cheshire 1,053 984,311 0.11% 644 992,642 0.06% 
			 Cleveland 681 556,693 0.12% 780 553,311 0.14% 
			 Cumbria 460 491,040 0.09% 538 494,782 0.11% 
			 Derbyshire 734 977,779 0.08% 732 979,226 0.07% 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1,350 1,586,655 0.09% 1,389 1,619,062 0.09% 
			 Dorset 775 698,330 0.11% 736 700,419 0.11% 
			 Durham 564 606,683 0.09% 476 595,388 0.08% 
			 Essex 1,229 1,628,962 0.08% 945 1,635,605 0.06% 
			 Gloucestershire 513 564,841 0.09% 398 572,791 0.07% 
			 Greater Manchester 2,629 2,585,750 0.10% 2,631 2,539,043 0.10% 
			 Hampshire 1,710 1,785,986 0.10% 1,333 1,801,442 0.07% 
			 Hertfordshire 561 1,050,828 0.05% 690 1,041,319 0.07% 
			 Humberside 748 880,985 0.08% 904 887,521 0.10% 
			 Kent 1,626 1,598,032 0.10% 1,049 1,610,310 0.07% 
			 Lancashire 1,728 1,429,450 0.12% 1,331 1,434,871 0.09% 
			 Leicestershire 756 938,693 0.08% 892 945,480 0.09% 
			 Lincolnshire 382 634,348 0.06% 470 673,531 0.07% 
			 Merseyside 2,216 1,403,381 0.16% 1,939 1,365,832 0.14% 
			 City of London & Met Police 10,358 7,375,065 0.14% 9,338 7,429,222 0.13% 
			 Norfolk 690 803,970 0.09% 9,338 816,525 1.14% 
			 Northamptonshire 446 625,895 0.07% 243 764,866 0.03% 
			 Northumbria 2031 1,413,970 0.14% 1,943 646,731 0.30% 
			 North Yorkshire 527 753,946 0.07% 368 1,396,374 0.03% 
			 Nottinghamshire 1291 1,031,210 0.13% 1,245 1,034,739 0.12% 
			 South Yorkshire 1945 1,301,532 0.15% 1,260 1,278,434 0.10% 
			 Staffordshire 809 1,059,711 0.08% 857 1,050,609 0.08% 
			 Suffolk 560 679,915 0.08% 614 683,736 0.09% 
			 Surrey 677 1,080,647 0.06% 445 1,067,186 0.04% 
			 Sussex 750 1,522,401 0.05% 1,068 1,510,445 0.07% 
			 Thames Valley 1,527 2,127,782 0.07% 1,284 2,120,859 0.06% 
			 Warwickshire 293 509,959 0.06% 207 525,481 0.04% 
			 West Mercia 861 1,146,670 0.08% 677 1,178,763 0.06% 
			 West Midlands 3,523 2,619,021 0.13% 3,359 2,579,153 0.13% 
			 West Yorkshire 3,203 2,121,452 0.15% 2,200 2,108,028 0.10% 
			 Wiltshire 588 613,487 0.10% 454 626,809 0.07% 
			 Dyfed-Powys 887 482,827 0.18% 582 503,663 0.12% 
			 Gwent 895 557,368 0.16% 574 556,641 0.10% 
			 North Wales 679 660,263 0.10% 605 674,498 0.09% 
			 South Wales 1,782 1,245,737 0.14% 2,086 1217660 0.17% 
			 1. Offenders dealt with following joint operations involving HM Customs and Revenue and the police are generally recorded against HM Customs.

Crime: Mental Health Act

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many successful prosecutions were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the past 10 years against individuals for crimes committed while detained or sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Data on the number of prosecutions for crimes committed while detained or sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 is not centrally held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.
	Information for Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Office and that for Northern Ireland for the Northern Ireland Office.

Crime: Rape

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 19 October (HL Deb, col. 868), whether cases of alleged rape are recorded onthe basis of uncorroborated evidence of the complainant that they were subject to a sexual act without having given consent.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The recording of crime is governed by the National Crime Recording Standard which states:
	"All reports of incidents, whether from victims, witnesses or third parties and whether crime related or not, will result in the registration of an incident report by the police. Following the initial registration, an incident will be recorded as a crime (notifiable offence) if, on the balance of probability: (a) the circumstances, as reported, amount to a crime defined by law (the police will determine this, based on their knowledge of the law and counting rules), and (b) there is no credible evidence to the contrary".
	Once recorded, a crime would remain recorded unless there was additional verifiable information to disprove that a crime had occurred. Specifically for offences of rape, if someone reports having been raped and the circumstances as reported amount to an offence of rape as defined by law but the alleged offender insists that she or he consented, a crime of rape will be recorded.

Defra: Budget

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by the Lord Rooker on 30 October (HL Deb, col. 9), whether other sections of service have also been affected by "a switch of funding" within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Lord Rooker: Other sections of Defra service have been affected by switches of funding between budget categories. Like all large organisations, Defra faces new financial pressures each year which require us constantly to review and adjust our spending plans. We conducted a rigorous review of financial allocations during the summer of 2006 which included detailed discussions with our agencies and other external bodies to agree where spending might best be reduced. This review was comprehensive in nature and has ensured that Defra's funding for the current year is placed where it can have the greatest impact. Switches of funding between budget categories result where the review identifies that priorities are best served by transferring allocation between them and estimate and budgetary rules allow.

Defra: Budget

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by the Lord Rooker on 30 October—Official Report, col. 9—on Natural England, what cuts in the resource area were made in terms of the amount of money involved and the projects affected.

Lord Rooker: We are working with Natural England to ensure that the impacts on key areas are minimised. David Miliband has advised the chair of Natural England of the department's priorities—for example, to minimise impact on delivery of the SSSI and farmland birds PSA targets. It is the responsibility of Natural England's board to ensure that the organisation fulfils the aims and objectives set by the Secretary of State, including the efficient and effective use of its staff and resources. Natural England chooses how best to deploy its available resources to those ends. My department is not involved in setting budgets for individual projects.

Defra: Budget

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by the Lord Rooker on 30 October (HL Deb, cols. 5—6), whether the budgets for flood defences will not be cut in view of the evidence from the Environment Agency that the reduction of £23.7 million in its budget would increase the risk of flooding.

Lord Rooker: The capital budget, which delivers improved flood defences, has not been cut and we believe that the programme to deliver schemes should be unaffected.
	We remain on course to meet our spending review 2004 target of better protecting 100,000 households in the period 2005-08.

Defra: Budget

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by the Lord Rooker on30 October—Official Report, col. 6—on Natural England, to which budget category the remaining £7 million of the total of £200 million has been allocated.

Lord Rooker: The pressures facing Defra have always been described as being more than£200 million.
	In addition to those I identified to the House on30 October are a range of other pressures, with varying probabilities that they will impact on Defra in 2006-07. These are part of the normal in-year monitoring of budgets that Defra has and continues to successfully manage against the estimate and budgetary controls. Given the uncertainty of the scope and likelihood of these other pressures actually crystallising, it would not be appropriate for me to provide details other than that these are current pressures in 2006-07.

Energy: Carbon Offsetting

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What formula they are using to calculate contributions to their carbon offsetting fund.

Lord Rooker: An initial assessment of departmental aviation emissions was carried out using air travel data from 2005-06 and the conversion factors published in Defra's Guidelines for Company Reporting on Greenhouse Gas Emissions. These factors are currently 0.11 kg CO2 per passenger kilometre for long-haul travel, and 0.15kg CO2 per passenger kilometre for short-haul. For the purposes of the government carbon offsetting fund, a multiplier of x2 has been applied to the estimated totals to take into account the additional climate impact of non-CO2 emissions at altitude.
	To apply an offsetting cost figure to departments, the initial assessment emissions totals were multiplied by £10. This is based upon the price agreed per tonne CO2 for the offsetting of the UK's G8 presidency.
	The actual cost per tonne to be paid will depend on the conclusion of the offsetting fund procurement process, due at the start of December. The initial assessment emissions figures will be updated using actual departmental air travel data for the opening year of the scheme, 2006-07. Final calculations of CO2 tonnage and associated offsetting costs will be carried out in April 2007.

Fishing: Lough Neagh

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On how many days during the past six months one or more fisheries patrol boats were on duty on Lough Neagh; and what were the hours spent on patrol on the lough on each of those days.

Lord Rooker: In the past six months the Fisheries Conservancy Board has carried out 12 boat patrols on Lough Neagh. The hours for each patrol are as follows:
	
		
			 Date Hours 
			 04/05/06 7 
			 07/05/06 6 
			 08/05/06 8 
			 09/05/06 7 
			 12/05/06 7 
			 21/5/06 6 
			 30/05/06 5.5 
			 13/06/06 4.5 
			 27/06/06 9 
			 30/6/06 8 
			 01/07/06 6 
			 03/10/06 5 
			 Total 79 
		
	
	Other boat patrols are carried out on Lough Neagh by various private water bailiffs. However, details of these patrols are not recorded by Government.

Floods: Risk Management

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total project value of the flood risk management schemes started in England in each of the years 2002—03; 2003—04 and 2004—05, and projected for 2005—06 and 2006—07.

Lord Rooker: The Environment Agency (EA) is the principal operating authority with responsibility for flood risk in England, and is primarily funded through Defra grant in aid. For information on the amount of Defra funding to the EA for flood risk management from 2002-03 to 2005-06 I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer given in the other place, Official Report of9 Oct 2006 at col. 200W.

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total cost to public funds of the vaccines interactions research programme at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, Porton Down.

Lord Drayson: I refer my noble friend to the Answer I gave on 22 June 2006 (Official Report, col. WA 99).

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Statement by the Lord Drayson on 19 October (WS 87-8), for how long possible adverse effects on the health of staff at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, Porton Down, reported to have received the combination of vaccines and tablets administered to United Kingdom forces deployed to the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, will be monitored.

Lord Drayson: The study of sick absence in multi-vaccinated staff at DSTL Porton Down, which examined records covering periods of employment from two to 38 years, was completed in 2001. The study examined vaccinations only. The vaccines administered were those required by the staff in the course of their duties. These included anti-biological warfare and health and hygiene vaccinations which, while not the same regimens as used at the time of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, were considered to provide a comparison that was relevant to our considerationof the possible health effects of the vaccination programme for veterans of that conflict.

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 9 October (WA 47), whether they have made an assessment of the analysis published in June 2004 of atmospheric plume studies by the Accountability Office of the Government of the United States; and, if so, whether they have revised their conclusions about the number of British troops exposed to the fall-out of the demolition at Khamisiyah.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence paper Review of Modelling of the Demolitions at Khamisiyah in March 1991 and implications for UK personnel, published in January 2005, took full account of the United States Government Accountability (formerly General Accounting) Office June 2004 review. This followed an assessment by Ministry of Defence experts. A copy, of the paper is available in the Library of the House and on the Ministry of Defence website at www.mod.uk.

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Statement by the Lord Drayson on 19 October (WS 87-8) on Gulf War illness, for how long the studies referred to lasted; and whether the marmosets were exposed to the same range of vaccines and insults, such as uncontrolled spraying or organophosphate pesticides, DEET, low-level sarin, oil well fire residues and depleted uranium, as service personnel; and
	Further to the Written Statement by the Lord Drayson on 19 October (WS 87-8) on Gulf War illness, whether they will take steps to ensure that future studies into illnesses of veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War take into account to the fullest extent possible factors or combinations of factors to which service personnel were subject.

Lord Drayson: The monitoring period of the marmoset study was 18 months. This represents some 11 per cent of the animals' expected lifespan and was considered an appropriate period in relation to the timescale for the emergence of ill-health among veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict. As my noble friend Lord Bach indicated in a Written Answer on18 November 2003 (Official Report, col. WA 280), the range of vaccines used represented the "worst case" scenario. Environmental and other conditions to which some individuals may have been exposed during the 1990-91 Gulf conflict were not part of the vaccines interactions research programme. The possible adverse health effects of other potential exposures are either already well understood or have been the subject of other research programmes. The wider evidence currently available makes clear that the ill health reported among Gulf veterans also affects individuals who have not experienced such other exposures.

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 9 October (WA 67-8) and the Written Statement by the Lord Drayson on 19 October (WS 87-8), whether the Written Answer was drawn to the attention of those who conducted the studies referred to in the Written Statement.

Lord Drayson: I refer my noble friend to the Answer given to him on 17 November 2003 (Official Report, col. WA 255-6).

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made any assessment of the conclusions of studies conducted in France that the whooping cough vaccine, used as an adjuvant to the anthrax vaccine and administered to United Kingdom troops in the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, was not suitable for adults; and of its health effects on the troops involved.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence is aware of a paper published in 2002 by Dr J N Tournier and colleagues: Gulf War Syndrome: could it be triggered by biological warfare vaccines using pertussis as an adjuvant?. The paper presents a hypothesis rather than a demonstrated finding and we are aware of no work to prove/disprove the hypothesis. The department's vaccines interaction research using marmosets found no evidence of such an effect.

Gulf War Illnesses

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is any government-funded organisation, other than the Medical Research Council, which is currently reviewing findings of international (particularly United States) medical and scientific researchers into Gulf War illnesses.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence, as the lead government department on Gulf veterans' illnesses (GVI), takes independent advice on the programme of GVI research principally from the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MoD has also established the independent Depleted Uranium Oversight Board and Independent Panel on Vaccines Interactions to provide specific advice on depleted uranium and multiple immunisations. These consider wider international findings as appropriate.

Hemp

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any proposals relating to the cultivation and uses of hemp in the United Kingdom.

Lord Rooker: Hemp is grown under licence in the UK for both non-food and food uses.
	The Government encourage the sustainable development of the renewables sector, including hemp, through the strategy for non-food crops, launchedin 2004. Industrial uses for hemp include fibres, biocomposites, construction materials and horse bedding. Special varieties are used for pharmaceutical applications. A two-year progress report on the strategy for non-food crops, discussing impacts and future priorities, will be published on 16 November 2006.

Hemp

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the benefits and disadvantages of the cultivation of hemp as a cash crop in developing countries.

Baroness Amos: DfID has in the past funded research in Tanzania into the use of a form of hemp (sunhemp) as green manure to promote increased yields from a variety of cash crops. We do not currently provide direct funding for research into the use of hemp as a cash crop, but we do fund the agriculture research programmes of a number of regional and national institutes in Africa. These programmes reflect the priorities of the countries and regions concerned and they would include research to promote cash crops appropriate to these areas.
	DfID recognises the importance of agriculture to the reduction of poverty and that cash crops can play a significant role in this—as part of wider strategies for sustainable agriculture.

Immigration: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people are currently detained in Northern Ireland for immigration offences.

Lord Rooker: Two male prisoners are currently held in HMP Maghaberry for immigration offences.

International Development: Helicopters

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What helicopter activity they are funding in their international development programme; and through which agencies.

Baroness Amos: DfID uses helicopters only where it is considered essential—either when they are needed for immediate emergency humanitarian response to disasters or when the security situation makes this necessary. Where possible, this is from civilian sources but, if necessary, from the UK military. The most recent humanitarian example was the Government's response to the earthquake in Pakistan. Our immediate response included providing three helicopters through the Ministry of Defence for a month (for which DfID funded the marginal costs and the MoD the standing costs).
	DfID has contributed more than £7 million to the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) for helicopter operations and logistical support during the humanitarian response to the Pakistan earthquake. This included the costs of chartering helicopters, the provision of technical personnel and vehicles, and co-ordination activities. DfID provided further funds towards wider relief activities of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which included the use of helicopters and logistical support as a component.
	In Iraq, we are using military helicopters to transfer staff from Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) to the International Zone (IZ). This helicopter air bridge is run by UK and US coalition forces. DfID makes a financial contribution to this operation, along with other Whitehall government departments, based on the number of people that we have working in Baghdad.
	DfID Uganda helped to hire a helicopter during late 2004 and early 2005 to ferry a peace negotiator to and from rebel positions to help secure peace between the Ugandan Government and the Lord's Resistance Army. This was the only safe way to travel in a dangerous environment in northern Uganda. The helicopter was hired from a commercial company in Kenya as the cheapest option available at the time and cost £126,347 (funds used were from the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool). For safety reasons, DfID Sierra Leone also uses helicopters to transfer aid workers from Freetown to the local airport.

Interpreters

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they support the interpreting profession's initiative to bring forward proposals for a national call centre for interpreters, similar to that used by police for duty solicitors; and
	What guidelines have been or are being established to ensure that, as far as possible, only qualified interpreters are used within the criminal justice system; what percentage usage of qualified interpreters would be regarded as good practice; and how the guidelines set up in the new interpreter's working agreement will be monitored.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) is currently leading a cross-agency review of the 2002 national agreement on arrangements for the attendance of interpreters in investigations and proceedings within the criminal justice system.
	The guidance contained in that agreement already makes clear that interpreters working in a court or a police station should, wherever possible, be registered with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) or the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People.
	If, in an individual case, it is not possible to select an interpreter from these registers, checks should be carried out to ensure that the interpreter selected meets standards at least equal to those required for registration. This is the recommended good practice standard.
	However, we are aware that there are shortages of interpreters in some languages and in some parts of the country. Rural areas may face particular difficulties in finding qualified interpreters compared with metropolitan areas, which usually have a more cosmopolitan population. These are difficult issues which the review is looking into.
	Monitoring of interpreter usage is one of the issues being considered in the current review. However, a national call centre for interpreters is not one of the options under consideration. We believe there are other ways of addressing current problems in interpreter provision.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Peacekeeping

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their assessment of the capacity of United Kingdom military forces to contribute sufficient numbers of combat troops for peacekeeping duties in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lord Drayson: The assessment of the requirements for military forces in overseas theatres is kept under constant review, as is the capacity of the Armed Forces to meet that requirement. The current requirement is assessed as challenging but manageable.

Iraq: Supply of Weapons

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What weapons they have supplied to the Government of Iraq for the use of Iraqi security forces; and on what terms the weapons were supplied.

Lord Drayson: The following weapons have been supplied by HMG to the Iraqi Government for use by the Iraqi security forces following Operation TELIC:
	6,500 x AK47 assault rifle
	438 x Underslung grenade launchers for AK47
	5,666 x 9mm pistols
	774 x Medium machine guns (PKMs)
	1,150 x Light machine guns (RPKs)
	The following weapons are awaiting delivery but have been approved to be supplied to the Iraqi Government for use by the Iraqi security forces:
	90 x Dshka machine guns
	6,300 x 9mm pistols
	85 x PKC machine guns
	12 x Dragunov sniper rifles
	These weapons have been gifted to the Iraqi Government. Prior to gifting, a minute was laid before Parliament to inform Parliament of HMG's intention to supply these weapons.

Iraq: Supply of Weapons

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have recorded and retained the serial numbers or other identification information in respect of any weapons or other military material supplied to the Government of Iraq.

Lord Drayson: Identification information for most military equipment supplied to the Iraqi Government by HMG following Operation TELIC has been recorded and retained. This includes the serial numbers of the weapons supplied. However no specific identifiers have been retained for equipment such as individual helmets and individual pairs of boots that have been supplied to the Iraqi security forces.

Iraq: Troop Morale

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence they have to support the statement by the Lord Drayson on 1 November that morale among British forces in Iraq has improved by 14 per cent since March; and, if the statement was based on a survey or opinion poll, whether they will place the full questionnaire, sample selection, data and results in the Library of the House.

Lord Drayson: I welcome this opportunity to correct a data point in my answer to Lord Craig of Radley in the Question on Iraq on1 November. The percentage increase of 14 per cent in soldiers' morale that I quoted from information briefed to me by the department was not correct. The correct figure is 16.7 per cent. The percentage of soldiers in the Army who recorded their moraleas "high or very high" in the 2006 attitude survey is 49 per cent, a 16.7 per cent increase on the 2005 figure of 42 per cent.
	These figures are derived from the single-services' continuous attitude surveys which are available in the Library of the House and are also available on the MoD FoI website. The latest versions were released on 31 October 2006.

Libya: Gaddafi Development Foundation

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Gaddafi Development Foundation is sufficiently independent to qualify as a monitoring body in relation to the memorandum of understanding signed with Libya.

Lord Triesman: The Government believe that the Gaddafi Development Foundation (GDF) will carry out its functions as a monitoring body independently and effectively. Both the Libyan and British Governments have undertaken to support the monitoring body's full and unrestricted implementation of its terms of reference.
	The GDF is the largest and most experienced non-governmental organisation in Libya. It has been operating since 1998. It frequently adopts public positions which are distinct from those of the Libyan authorities; for example, in its work on the case of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medical staff accused in 1999 of deliberately spreading HIV in a children's hospital in Benghazi. The British Government have undertaken to provide capacity-building assistance which the GDF may request in preparation for carrying out its monitoring role. The GDF has so far identified a need for training in forensic medicine and on the application of international human rights law. The Government are making arrangements for such training to take place.

Libya: Gaddafi Development Foundation

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the independence and suitability of the Gaddafi Foundation for Development as an independent monitor for the memorandum of understanding signed with Libya.

Lord Triesman: The Government believe that the Gaddafi Development Foundation (GDF) will carry out its functions as a monitoring body independently and effectively. Both the Libyan and British Governments have undertaken to support the monitoring body's full and unrestricted implementation of its terms of reference.
	The GDF is the largest and most experienced non-governmental organisation in Libya. It has been operating since 1998. It frequently adopts public positions which are distinct from those of the Libyan authorities, for example in its work on the case of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medical staff accused in 1999 of deliberately spreading HN in a children's hospital in Benghazi. The British Government have undertaken to provide capacity-building assistance which the GDF may request in preparation for carrying out its monitoring role. The GDF has so far identified a need for training in forensic medicine and on the application of international human rights law; the Government are making arrangements for such training to take place.

Marine Environment

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by the Lord Rooker on31 October (HL Deb, col. 153), how his statement that English Nature requested closure because of the pink sea fan is compatible with the indication given to the Minister by English Nature that the purpose of the closure would be to prevent damage from towed fishing gear to seabed habitats and communities.

Lord Rooker: Like a lot of commentators on this issue, I confused the request for a stop order for specific protection purposes with a possible request to designate the area as a special area for conservation to protect the reefs and wider biodiversity. English Nature did advise that increased scalloping was having a significant impact on important reef features and it recommended the closure of 60 square miles—8 per cent—of Lyme Bay. It also provided advice that the area is the habitatof pink sea fans, ross corals and sunset corals that have been afforded protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended. However, in subsequent discussions, English Nature concentrated on the need to protect pink sea fans and the department took this on board.
	After due consideration of all of the evidence produced in relation to this matter, my honourable friend the Minister for Fisheries, Mr Ben Bradshaw, concluded that a zonal solution was the most appropriate in all the circumstances to date. That afforded seven times the protection for pink sea fans that had existed under the previous voluntary agreement and the areas provided protection to over 92 per cent of the known pink sea fan sites.

Marine Spatial Planning

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they support the concept of marine spatial planning; and whether they envisage involving regional and local authorities in such a system.

Lord Rooker: In 2005, the Labour Party manifesto committed to introduce a new framework for the seas based on marine spatial planning. The Government remain very supportive of this concept, which we plan to take forward through a marine Bill.
	It will be important that regional and local authorities are involved in such a system to ensure that new marine proposals are integrated with planning processes on land. This is being considered as part of policy development, following the outcome of a public consultation which is available on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/marinebill/index.htm.

Music: DCMS Research

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the current research by Ipsos-MORI, which was commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, will be published.

Lord Davies of Oldham: We intend to publish the Ipsos-MORI live music licensing research report in December.

Music: Licensing

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of pubs, bars and restaurants have received live music permission since the coming into force of the Licensing Act 2003.

Lord Davies of Oldham: We do not hold this information centrally.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in association with the Live Music Forum, has contracted Ipsos-MORI to carry out a survey of success by smaller venues in securing authorisation to stage live music under the new licensing regime. We expect the findings to give an indication of the proportion of pubs, bars and restaurants which have secured permission to stage live music under the Licensing Act 2003. We intend to release the findings from this survey on the department's website in December 2006.

Music: MORI Poll

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the follow-up survey to the 2004 MORI poll into live music, announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, will be commissioned.

Lord Davies of Oldham: We intend to contract an organisation early next year in order to carry out the follow-up survey in the summer of 2007.

Nepal: DfID Programmes

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which cancelled or deferred Department for International Development programmes in Nepal have been resumed since April 2006; and what are the revised budgets under the country programmes for 2005—06 and 2006—07.

Baroness Amos: Following the takeover by King Gyanendra in February 2005, DfID programmes in support of the police, prison service and Prime Minister's office were withdrawn and have not been reinstated.
	DfID is currently reviewing its programme and strategic objectives in Nepal to ensure that its support takes full account of the changing political and conflict context. The case for reinstating cancelled programmes will be examined as part of this broader review.
	A review of the Nepal programme following the takeover by the King set planning figures for the country programme of £32 million in 2005-06 and £30 million in 2006-07. In June 2006, DfID Ministers increased the 2006-07 planning figure to £33 million.

NHS: Pathology Testing

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their latest estimate of the national annual cost of pathology testing carried outin National Health Service primary care trusts.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health does not collect information centrally about the national annual cost of pathology testing carried out in National Health Service primary care trusts (PCTs). However, the total cost of direct access pathology services—that is, pathology services requested by general practitioners for patients in primary care—provided by PCTs in 2004-05, as reported in 2004-05 reference costs, is £2.25 million. The overwhelming majority of pathology tests are carried out in hospitals.

Northern Ireland: Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Budget

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	By how much the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has been underspent in each of the past five years.

Lord Rooker: The information requested is contained in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure resource accounts for the years 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 which have been laid before the Houses of Parliament.

Northern Ireland: Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Budget

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What cutbacks they envisage in the budget of the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure as a result of the creation of the Transitional Fund for Festivals in 2006.

Lord Rooker: No cutbacks are envisaged in the budget of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure as a result of transitional funding for festivals in 2006.

Northern Ireland: Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to offer training to those in Northern Ireland who organise community festivals.

Lord Rooker: Training for festival organisers is an integral part of the support delivered through the Community Festivals Fund administered by the Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC).

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 May (WA 65), where the information is held indicating on how many occasions since 1997 the Home Office has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman; and how members of the public may have access to that information; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 May (WA 65), whether the Home Office will in future hold information about the department's compliance with the Parliamentary Ombudsman's recommendations in a way which permits public access to that information.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The complete information requested is not currently held centrally within the Home Office and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	In terms of the future, the Home Office will look at better ways of collating and making available information about recommendations made by the Parliamentary Ombudsman following its investigations in a way which is commensurate with the ombudsman's own publication procedures. We will be in touch with the ombudsman about this and I will write to the noble Lord with details of our proposals.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the reason for the delay in answering the Question for Written Answer by the Lord Lester of Herne Hill (HL6054) on the information held regarding the number of occasions since 1997 when the Home Office has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman; and
	What is the reason for the delay in answering the Question for Written Answer by the Lord Lesterof Herne Hill (HL6055) on whether the Home Office will in future hold information about the department's compliance with the Parliamentary Ombudsman's recommendations in a way which permits public access to that information.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The complete information requested is not currently held centrally within the Home Office and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman itself publishes a range of information about its investigations. For example, in terms of its role in examining access to official information, the Ombudsman's report of May 2005 (Monitoring of the Non-Statutory Codes of Practice 1994-2005 (Access to Official Information)) shows that between 1994 and 2005 the Home Office was subject to 18 investigations. Of those investigations, the ombudsman found that in one instance the department has failed to comply with its recommendations.
	In terms of the future, the Home Office will look at better ways of collating and making available information about recommendations made by the Parliamentary Ombudsman following its investigations, in a way which is commensurate with the ombudsman's own publication procedures. We will be in touch with the ombudsman about this and I will write to the noble Lord with details of our proposals.

Pollution

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made an estimate of the numbers of premature deaths each week during the past five years caused by air pollution, and in particular air pollution caused by road traffic.

Lord Rooker: The numbers of premature deaths attributed to air pollution are not routinely estimated on a weekly basis. It is not possible to identify individual patients affected by air pollution. The link between air pollution and deaths brought forward is derived from statistical correlations between daily air pollution levels and routine daily statistics on total deaths.
	Air pollution is associated with adverse health effects. An assessment carried out for the review of the air quality strategy1 estimated that the level of man-made particulate air pollution experienced in the UK in 2005 would be expected to reduce average life expectancy by up to about eight months. This health impact in 2005 is estimated to cost up to £9 billionto £21.4 billion per annum. Road transport will contribute to these effects.
	Ozone and particulate matter are long-range pollutants which may travel hundreds of miles before reaching the UK. Particulate matter does have a local component, and local road transport contributes a proportion of this. For ozone, local road transport emissions actually reduce peak levels in cities due to the destruction of ozone in reaction with vehicle emissions.
	The Department of Health's Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) quantification sub-group, in its report The quantification of the effects of air pollution on health in the United Kingdom, estimated in 19982 the number of deaths brought forward due to short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM10), ozone and sulphur dioxide as up to 24,000 per year.
	Assuming that around a quarter of the PM103 in urban areas is due directly or indirectly to emissions from transport, as a rough estimate it can be assumed that up to around 2,000 deaths brought forward in urban areas may have been related to emissions from transport at that time.
	This estimate does not include the impact of transport emissions on life expectancy and on cardiovascular admissions. These were not quantified by COMEAP at the time of the 1998 report. Further work on this issue is likely to be considered as part of the work of the COMEAP sub-group on quantification.
	Estimates are made for intense pollutionepisodes. For example, an estimate was made for the summer smog episode in August 20034. Some 220 to 570 deaths were estimated to have been brought forward over the two-week period due to ozone and a further 202 due to particulate matter (PM10). A report and estimate is also being produced on the summer smog episodes during the June and July 2006 heatwave. This will be available in due course.
	1 Defra (2006) The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland—volume 1. A consultation document for further improvements in air quality.
	2 Based on pollution levels in 1996. Pollution levels have reduced substantially since then.
	3 This includes PM10 derived directly from road, rail, aircraft and ships and PM10 derived indirectly from NOx transport emissions from the UK and Europe. It excludes sources such as coarse dust, sea salt, and emissions from industry.
	4 Stedman, J.R., (2003) The predicted number of air pollution related deaths in the UK during the August 2003 heatwave. Atmospheric Environment.

Prisoners: Gender Balance

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 9 October (WA 94) concerning the imbalance in the number of men and women in prison, whether they have any evidence concerning any difference between men and women in their propensity to commit crime.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Information on the extent and nature of offending in England and Wales, including those aged 10 to 65, is published in the Home Office Research Study 275, Offending in England and Wales: First results from the 2003 Crime and Justice Survey, copies of which are available in the Library ofthe House and the Home Office website at: www.homeoffce.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hors275.pdf.
	The results from the 2003 survey show that overall, among people aged 10 to 65, males were almost twice as likely to report committing an offence in the last year as females (13 per cent versus 7 per cent). Separate figures are not available for adults.

Prisons: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people are held in corrective institutions in Northern Ireland; and what is that number as a percentage of the total capacity available in those institutions.

Lord Rooker: On 25 October, 1,476 peoplewere held in Northern Ireland Prison Service establishments. This represents 108 per cent of the male and 68 per cent of the female accommodation available for each category—these figures are reflected in doubling up by a proportion of male prisoners and young offenders.

Prisons: Vulnerable People

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by the Secretaryof State for the Home Department on 20 July(HC Deb, col. 473) that vulnerable women and those for whom mental health treatment would be more appropriate should not be in prison, what plans they have to achieve that result.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Under the Mental Health Act 1983 the courts have powers to assess mentally disordered offenders before sentencing and to divert them to receive specialist treatment in hospital rather than punishment. In 2004, 1,195 convicted offenders were diverted from prison to hospital by this route. In addition, in 2005-06 the Secretary of State directed the transfer of 427 sentenced prisoners and 495 remand prisoners to hospital for mental health treatment. The process of transferring prisoners to hospital has been reviewed and new instructions issued this year to maximise co-operation between HM Prison Service and the mental health services.
	The Home Office and the Department of Health are also working together on a national development programme for extending offender health support. The programme aims to ensure that offenders' health and social care needs are identified and addressed in the most appropriate way, including diversion from the criminal justice system where this is appropriate.
	We are also taking forward a range of work on women offenders. The noble Baroness, Lady Corston, is currently leading an independent review of vulnerable women's experience in the criminal justice system. The Government look forward to receiving her recommendations later this year. In addition, the Women's Offending Reduction Programme is focusing the efforts of government departments and other agencies delivering community-based services in lieu of prison sentences; and the Together Women Programme seeks to tackle women's offending in the community by delivering services to meet the needs of vulnerable women offenders at every stage of their offending career.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 9 October (WA 101), whether they will now answer the original Question asked by the Lord Jopling (HL7082).

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given in Hansard of 9 October at col. WA 101. In addition, I refer the noble Lord to my reply to his Question (HL 8083) which I have answered today. In it, I confirm that:
	"The delay in answering their noble Lordships' Questions is very much regretted. It was caused by pressure of work in the relevant area of the department. The Permanent Secretary has reminded those concerned of the importance of adhering to the established timescale for responding to Parliamentary Questions.
	The Home Secretary has recognised that the department's performance in answering PQs has not been acceptable. In response, he has instructed both the Permanent Secretary and my right honourable friend the Minister of State for PolicingCrime and Community Safety to review the current PQdelivery mechanisms. In addition to that, he has identifiedthe department's obligations to Parliament as one of the performance measures that should result from his plan to reform the Home Office".

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the reason for the delay of 19 weeks by the Home Office in answering the two Questions for Written Answer by the Lord Lester of Herne Hill tabled on 5 June, when the target time for answer is two weeks.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I refer the noble Lord to the Answers given to the Lord Lester of Herne Hill on the 8 November (HL6054) and (HL6055).
	The Home Secretary has written both to the Speaker and the Leader of the House outlining his concern over the often delayed response to answering Parliamentary Questions. This concern should be viewed in the context of the 11,000 plus Questions that my department has received over the course of the Session. On one particular day, it received approximately 160 Questions.
	The Home Secretary has instructed both the Permanent Secretary and my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Policing Crime and Community Safety (Tony McNulty) to review the current PQ delivery mechanisms. In addition to this, he has identified the department's obligations to Parliament as one of the performance measures that should result from the Home Secretary's plan to reform the Home Office. The improvements will not happen overnight but I am reassured that considerable effort has occurred throughout the Summer Recess to reduce the backlog of unanswered Questions. This work remains ongoing although I am pleased to reassure you that for the months of July, August and September the department answered 1,245 Questions with more than 70 per cent answered within agreed timescales.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In view of the two-week target time for answering Questions for Written Answer, when the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Permanent Secretary were informed of the failure to reply to the Lord Lester of Herne Hill's two Questions tabled on 5 June (HL6054) and (HL6055), which remain unanswered after 21 weeks; and, if they have not been informed, what is the most senior level of Minister or official who have had the failure to reply drawn to their attention.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The delay in answering their noble Lordships' Questions is very much regretted. It was caused by pressure of work in the relevant area of the department. The Permanent Secretary has reminded those concerned of the importance of adhering to the established timescale for responding to Parliamentary Questions.
	The Home Secretary has recognised that the department's performance in answering PQs has not been acceptable. In response, he has instructed both the Permanent Secretary and my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Policing Crime and Community Safety to review the current PQ delivery mechanisms. In addition to that, he has identified the department's obligations to Parliament as one of the performance measures that should result from his plan to reform the Home Office.

Rally Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the brochures and programmes for the Rally Ireland event in 2006, which they funded, were individually sold; and, if so, how much money was collected from their sale.

Lord Rooker: Event brochures/programmes for the Rally Ireland event in 2006 were individually available for sale prior to and during the event. £22,845.39 was collected from the sale of brochures/programmes.

Schools

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Adonis on 25 October (WA 252), what immediate steps they intend to take in order to help the 272,000 primary and secondary school pupils who are attending schools in special measures or in other Ofsted categories of concern.

Lord Adonis: Local authorities have statutory responsibility for leading the process of improvement at schools in special measures or other Ofsted categories of concern. They are expected to produce a statement of action immediately when a school goes into special measures or is judged to require significant improvement, setting out which, if any, statutory intervention powers they intend to use to support the school's improvement.
	The new Education and Inspection Act provides an additional power for local authorities to require a school to take a partner for the purposes of school improvement—this may be a nearby school that can help build the capacity of the school causing concern to drive the improvement forward.
	The department works through the national strategies regional teams to provide support and challenge to local authorities with schools in Ofsted categories of concern so improvements are made as quickly as possible. Programmes of training, guidance and teaching support are available through the national strategies where the underlying problems identified concern the quality of teaching in the core subjects. Where weak leadership of the school is a key issue, support may be offered from one of the national leaders of education—head teachers at strong schools selected and accredited by the National College for School Leadership for deployment by the relevant local authority to support the turn around of the school in special measures. Tailored packages of support with additional financial resources can be offered by the department to particular schools where the local authority is unable to meet the immediate needs. In cases where the replacement of the school is necessary, the new Schools Commissioner may be involved to broker a new academy or a trust.

St Andrews Agreement

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they commissioned the signage referring to an agreement which was used at the St Andrews summit on 13 October.

Lord Rooker: The decision to refer to an agreement in the signage used for the press conference at theSt Andrews summit was taken shortly before the press conference on Friday 13 October, in light of the agreement reached that afternoon between the British and Irish Governments.

Tourism: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What hotel projects have received grants from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board since 1989; how much was paid; and when the projects funded were completed.

Lord Rooker: It has not been possible to answer the noble Lord's Question within this parliamentary Session. I have, however, passed the noble Lord's Question to the Minister with responsibility for the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and she will write to the noble Lord.

Ulster-Scots

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they propose to bring an Irish language Bill before Parliament; and whether any such Bill will include parity of treatment for the Ulster-Scots language, as required by the Belfast agreement of 1998.

Lord Rooker: The Government purpose to introduce an Irish Language Bill which will seek to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language.
	It is not intended to deal with the Ulster-Scots language in the proposed Bill.
	Her Majesty's Government are committed to enhancing and developing the Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture and are working actively with the Ulster-Scots Agency and representatives of the Ulster-Scots community to develop more detailed proposals for fulfilling this commitment.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any proposals to increase the budget for 2007 for the Ulster-Scots Agency to match that available to the Irish language in order to meet the requirements of equality and parity of esteem.

Lord Rooker: The 2007 budget for the Ulster-Scots Agency will be determined in accordance with approved actions in the agency's annual business plan. The Government are committed to affording equal respect to Ulster-Scots and the Irish language. They are, however, at different levels of development, as indicated by the different levels of recognition under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Officials are working with representatives of the Ulster Scots community to agree a strategy to assist Ulster-Scots in achieving Part III status.

Waste Management: Litter Penalties

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the imposition of penalties for minor littering and waste disposal offences, which may be disproportionately high in relation to the nuisance caused, will foster respect for the law.

Lord Rooker: The current level of fixed penalty notice fine (for example, £75 for the litter offence issued under Section 88 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990) is not considered to be disproportionately high, given that these offences collectively have a large cost to the wider community. Today, the annual cost to keep our streets clean is in excess of £500 million.
	Further, should an individual wish to dispute a fixed penalty notice, they are then liable to prosecution for the original offence in the magistrates' court, where the court will determine the level of fine, should they be found guilty.

Work Permits

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many work permits have been issued in the past two years to (a) Bulgarian, and (b) Romanian nationals.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The numbers of work permits issued to workers of Bulgarian and Romanian nationality to work in the UK, for the period1 October 2004 to 30 September 2006, is in the table.
	
		
			 Nationality Oct 2004 —  Sept 2005 Oct 2005 —  Sept 2006 Total 
			 Bulgaria 2,382 1,637 4,019 
			 Romania 2,201 1,697 3,898 
			 Total 4,583 3,334 7,917 
		
	
	The numbers include both in-country and out-of-country approvals, but do not include extensions or in-country changes of employment. The numbers of approvals may not equal the numbers of workers of Bulgarian and Romanian nationality receiving work permit approval, as some individuals may have received more than one work permit during the period.
	The figures quoted are not provided under national statistics protocols. They have been derived fromlocal management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Work Permits

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following their announcement that they will issue work permits only to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals seeking certain categories of employment, what plans they have for those currently working in other categories of employment in the United Kingdom when their visas expire.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Regulations in respect of Bulgarian and Romanian workers' access to the labour market will be laid before the House in due course. However, Bulgarian and Romanian nationals with a visa currently who have already completed12 months' legal work in the UK will generally be exempt from work permit restrictions in certain situations.
	A national of Bulgaria or Romania is not an accession state national subject to worker authorisation if they have leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom under the 1971 Act and that leave is not subject to any condition restricting his employment.
	A national of Bulgaria or Romania is not an accession state national subject to worker authorisation if they are legally working in the United Kingdom on31 December 2006 and have been legally working in the United Kingdom without interruption throughout the period of 12 months ending on that date.
	A national of Bulgaria or Romania who legally works in the United Kingdom without interruption for a period of 12 months falling partly or wholly after 31 December 2006 shall cease to be an accession state national subject to worker authorisation at the end of that period of 12 months.